Texans' offseason position-by-position breakdown

January 2, 2014 6:11 PM

Photo: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

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The Texans enter the offseason with 12 players who will become unrestricted free agents and four who will be restricted free agents when the league year begins in March.
There are no starters among the restricted free agents.
Among the notable unrestricted free agents will be running back Ben Tate, tight end Garrett Graham, guard Wade Smith, defensive end Antonio Smith, nose tackle Earl Mitchell and inside linebackers Darryl Sharpton and Joe Mays. less

The Texans enter the offseason with 12 players who will become unrestricted free agents and four who will be restricted free agents when the league year begins in March.
There are no starters among the ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

The Texans enter the offseason with 12 players who will become... Photo-5666013.76955 - Houston Chronicle

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Quarterback

Under contract: Case Keenum, Matt Schaub, T.J. Yates.
Free agents: None.
Assessment: There will be a new starting quarterback. The new coach could decide to get rid of all three. Schaub is definitely going to be waived. Yates could be, too. Or Yates could return to compete with Keenum for a spot on the team behind a possible first-round pick and a new veteran who doesn’t cost a lot against the salary cap. less

Quarterback

Under contract: Case Keenum, Matt Schaub, T.J. Yates. Free agents: None. Assessment: There will be a new starting quarterback. The new coach could decide to get rid of all three. Schaub is ... more

Under contract: Arian Foster (injured reserve), Dennis Johnson, Jonathan Grimes, Ray Graham.
Free agents: Ben Tate (injured reserve), Deji Karim.
Assessment: Tate will sign with another team that pays him to be a starter. Foster’s surgically repaired back will be healthy enough for him to return to his position as the starter, but he must stay healthy. That’s why finding a replacement for Tate is paramount because the new back could get a lot of playing time. The new staff might bring in another back or two in the draft and free agency because the Texans will be playing a different offensive style under the new regime. The one-cut-and-go system is sure to be abandoned. less

Under contract: Brad Smelley, Toben Opurum.
Free agents: Greg Jones.
Assessment: Expect the Texans to have a new fullback next season, possibly two on the roster depending on how the new staff values this position. Jones was the fourth starter in four years. Now there will be a fifth in five years. Look for them to sign a veteran who’s a powerful lead blocker. less

Fullback

Under contract: Brad Smelley, Toben Opurum. Free agents: Greg Jones. Assessment: Expect the Texans to have a new fullback next season, possibly two on the roster depending on how the new staff ... more

Under contract: Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins, Keshawn Martin, DeVier Posey, Mike Thomas, Rico Richardson, EZ Nwachukwu, Andy Cruse, Alan Bonner (injured reserve), Alex Lemon (injured reserve).
Free agents: Lestar Jean (restricted free agent)
Assessment: This isn’t a priority position unless the new coach values blinding speed at this position. If so, they’ll be in the market for another receiver. Johnson will be 33 before camp, but he’s still one of the league’s best. Perhaps the new staff can find a way to get him the ball in the end zone. Hopkins should show a lot of improvement in his second season. Posey will be fully recovered from surgery on his Achilles tendon. Martin could be more valuable to a coach who uses formations with four wideouts. less

Under contract: Owen Daniels (injured reserve), Ryan Griffin, Phillip Supernaw.
Free agents: Garrett Graham.
Assessment: Daniels was coming off a Pro Bowl season and got off to a good start before suffering a fractured fibula. He’ll turn 32 during his ninth season and could become a salary cap casualty. Getting Graham to re-sign is a priority. He improved each season and was headed toward 55 to 60 catches before he was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Griffin replaced Graham in the lineup and showed he can play. His 12.8-yard average was right behind Andre Johnson’s 12.9. less

Tight end

Under contract: Owen Daniels (injured reserve), Ryan Griffin, Phillip Supernaw. Free agents: Garrett Graham. Assessment: Daniels was coming off a Pro Bowl season and got off to a good start before ... more

Under contract: Duane Brown, Chris Myers, Brandon Brooks, Derek Newton, Ben Jones, Cody White, Alex Kupper, Brennan Williams (injured reserve), David Quessenberry (injured reserve).
Free agents: Wade Smith, Ryan Harris, Andrew Gardner.
Assessment: Left tackle Brown, center Myers and right guard Brooks are solidly entrenched at their positions. Smith is expected to be replaced at left guard by Jones or Quessenberry, a former tackle who spent his rookie season on injured reserve. If Brennan Williams, who also spent his rookie season on injured reserve, or another veteran or a draft choice can’t beat out Newton next season, the offense will be in trouble. Newton struggled with consistency. less

Under contract: J.J. Watt, Jared Crick, Tim Jamison.
Free agents: Antonio Smith, Earl Mitchell, Terrell McClain (restricted).
Assessment: This area will get some attention in the draft and possibly in free agency. Watt is the cornerstone of the defense. Crick could compete for a starting job in his third season. The new staff might want to bring back Antonio Smith if he’ll sign for close to the minimum. He’ll be 33 next season and this might be the best spot for him at this time of his career. They’d like to re-sign Mitchell, who led all nose tackles in tackles, but it depends on what system the new coach uses. less

Defensive line

Under contract: J.J. Watt, Jared Crick, Tim Jamison. Free agents: Antonio Smith, Earl Mitchell, Terrell McClain (restricted). Assessment: This area will get some attention in the draft and ... more

Under contract: Brian Cushing (injured reserve), Brooks Reed, Whitney Mercilus, Jeff Tarpinian, Joe Mohamed, Justin Tuggle, Trevardo Williams (injured reserve), Even Frierson (injured reserve).
Free agents: Darryl Sharpton, Joe Mays, Bryan Braman (restricted), Ricky Sapp (restricted)
Assessment: If the new staff switches to a 4-3, Mercilus could play end. Reed probably will stay at linebacker on the strong side. If the Texans keep a 3-4, Reed could move inside if they can find a suitable replacement on the strong side. Mays and Tarpinian were nice additions. Sharpton played healthy for most of the season. Braham is the best special teams player. So much of who returns and who leaves depends on if the new staff keeps the 3-4 or changes to a 4-3. less

Under contract: Shane Lechler, Randy Bullock, Jon Weeks.
Free agents: None.
Assessment: There’s no need to make changes in this threesome. Even though he’ll be 38 next season, Lechler will be coming off a tremendous season. Bullock finished the season with 12 consecutive field goals. Weeks is an outstanding snapper. less

Special teams

Under contract: Shane Lechler, Randy Bullock, Jon Weeks. Free agents: None. Assessment: There’s no need to make changes in this threesome. Even though he’ll be 38 next season, Lechler will ... more